The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ENGINE, ENGINE

ONE OF SEVERAL METHODS OF DETERMINING WHO WOULD BE
"IT" IN GAMES LIKE TAG AND HIDE AND SEEK WAS FOUND
IN THE FOLLOWING RHYME:
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
ROLLING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THIS TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THIS TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
NOW, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE POINTED TO
AT THE WORD "BACK" AND HE SAYS YES OR NO. THEN
THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED AND THE PERSON WHO COMES
OUT "IT" IS THE ONE WHO IS TOUCHED AT THE LAST
WORD OF THIS:
"Y-E-S SPELLS YES AND YOU ARE NOT "IT."
OR, IF THE PERSON SAYS "NO" THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED
WITH THE SAME RESULT.
"N-O SPELLS NO AND YOU ARE NOT IT."
THIS SAME VERSE CONTINUES UNTIL ALL PARTICIPANTS
BUT ONE ARE ELIMINATED AND "IT" IS THIS LAST
PERSON WHO IS DESIGNATED TO BE "IT."

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Date learned: 11-24-1967